Board approves appointments

July 25, 1997

KALAMAZOO -- The appointments of two department chairpersons
and a director of planned giving were approved July 25 by the
Western Michigan University Board of Trustees.

Dr. Hideko N. Abe was selected as chairperson of the new Department
of Asian and Middle Eastern Languages while Dr. Joseph R. Morris
was named chairperson of the Department of Counselor Education
and Counseling Psychology. Kenneth J. DeVries was appointed director
of planned giving in the development office.

Abe has been an assistant professor of East Asian studies at
Vanderbilt University since 1995. She also has taught at colleges
and universities in Maine, California, Arizona and Colorado as
well as at schools in Japan. The author of several articles for
professional journals on such topics as Japanese women's speech,
she has made numerous presentations at conferences throughout
the United States and Japan.

Abe earned her bachelor's degree from Shikoku Christian College
in Japan and her master's and doctoral degrees from Arizona State
University. Her appointment, effective Aug. 11, 1997, includes
a tenure track position as an assistant professor of Asian and
Middle Eastern languages. The new department at WMU was approved
by the Board of Trustees in April.

Morris, a WMU faculty member since 1984, has served as interim
chairperson of the Department of Counselor Education and Counseling
Psychology for the past two years. His new appointment is effective
July 1, 1997. He earned his bachelor's degree from Central State
University in Ohio and his master's and doctoral degrees from
the University of Michigan.

DeVries served as director of planning giving at WMU from 1989
until 1996, when he resigned to become assistant vice president
for major and planned giving at Georgia State University. His
return to his WMU position is effective July 28, 1997. DeVries
earned his bachelor's degree from WMU and his law degree from
Cooley Law School.

In other action, the board approved the retirement with emeritus
status of Dr. Robert L. Erickson, professor of speech pathology
and audiology, effective Dec. 31, 1997. He has been a WMU faculty
member since 1963 and served as department chairperson from 1977
to 1990.

The board also granted the retirements of these staff members,
along with their years of service: Freida M. Amos, secretary in
the School of Social Work, 24 years; Shirley Gordon, custodian
in the building custodial and support services area of the physical
plant, 11 years; and Bonnie J. Love, custodian in the building
custodial and support services area of the physical plant, 19
years. All are effective July 31, 1997.

In addition, the board accepted the resignations of these faculty
members: Dr. Janet S. Dynak, assistant professor of education
and professional development; and Dr. Connie D. Ruhl-Smith, assistant
professor of educational leadership. Both are effective Aug. 20,
1997.